Page 32 of Emerald Vices

“She’s just terrified of being hurt again, Andrey. At the moment, she feels like nothing more than a broodmare for your legacy.”

“That’s not what she is to me.”

Annie smiles. “Do you think I’d be here at all if I thought she was right?”

“So why can’t Natalia see it, too?” I growl.

“Because, when it comes to you, she can’t see clearly.”

Rising out of my seat, I start pacing. “What if I build Natalia the perfect nursery?” I suggest. “She made a vision board a while back. I could use that to bring her vision to life. To show her how I feel, what she means to me, what our family?—”

Annie looks disappointed as she taps a finger against the head of her walking stick. “Don’t you understand, Andrey? She doesn’t need your money. She needs your time. Your attention.”

“I—”

“Find a way to reach her how she needs, Andrey,” Annie interrupts, climbing back to her feet and regripping her cane. “Or you’ll end up losing her altogether.”

14

NATALIA

Misha kneels down in front of Remi, the two of them sharing an overly cinematic goodbye, as if they won’t be connected at the hip eight short hours from now.

I tousle Misha’s hair while he presses his nose to Remi’s. “How about we play some chess when I get back home after work?”

“Only if you’re prepared to lose again.”

“You little stinker!” I swat at him, and he skitters off, laughing.

His limbs look long and lanky. I swear he’s visibly grown in just the last couple weeks.

Suddenly, I’m the one in need of an overwrought goodbye. He might grow another inch in the eight hours I’m gone at work. By the time I get home, he’ll have a goatee and a credit score.

I walk into the foyer, not even sparing a passing glance for the tall figure leaning against the front door. I’ve resigned myself to the overbearing presence of my bodyguards.

“Are you ready?” I ask, expecting Leif, Leonty, or Olaf to open the door for me—if I have to be under lock and key, at least they’re gentlemen about it.

But the man who turns his broody, silver eyes on me is no gentleman.

“Good morning, lastochka.”

I successfully avoided Andrey all weekend. To his credit, he made it easy. He gave me a wide berth. Even still, this huge manor felt too small for the both of us. It’s why I need to get out now.

“I don’t have time for this. I’m going to work.”

He bands an arm across the doorway, silhouetted by the sunrise. “I think it’s better if you stay home today.”

“You’ll have to schedule your next bullshit intervention outside of work hours if you want to trick me into attending.”

Andrey doesn’t move. He just lowers his chin, his silver eyes piercing into my soul.

“You’ve already given me a full-scale security team,” I argue, even though Andrey isn’t arguing back. “Not to mention a personal guard dog. What is the point of any of them if I can’t go out and live my life?”

His brow furrows. He seems to be searching my face for something, but I have no idea what that is.

I screech in frustration. “You’ve hijacked every aspect of my life and I’m freaking sick of it. If you?—”

“Okay.”

---